‘Moana’ movie review: Dwayne Johnson returns in a soulless remake
The live-action remake of Disney's 'Moana' is criticized for being a soulless replication of the original animated film. Despite the earnest performance of Catherine Laga’aia, the reviewer finds the film lacks the creative spark of its predecessor.
Why it matters
This reflects ongoing critical discourse regarding the trend of live-action remakes in the entertainment industry and their impact on original intellectual property.
Ten years ago, Disney released Moana , an animated film about a chief’s daughter who sails the ocean in search of the demigod Maui and returns the heart of the island goddess, Te Fiti. The film, a critical and commercial success, had an arresting visual palette, jokes, adventures and songs aplenty, and also created a new breed of Disney heroine.
Moana was not a damsel in distress waiting to be awakened by a kiss from Prince Charming. She was a chief-in-waiting, anointed by the ocean itself to venture beyond the safety of the reef and save her island. There was a sequel, Moana 2 , in 2024, which was well on the downward slide to mediocrity. Now comes a live-action remake of the animated film, which is stunning only in its soulless replication of frames.
Catherine Laga'aia in a scene from ‘Moana’ | Photo Credit: Disney Enterprises; Inc.
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